Frequently Asked Questions
Here, we gathered and answered for you the most common questions we accept from our customers about the ELK building system and the wood as building material. We hope in this way we can provide you with the raw information you need and we would be pleased to meet you in our offices.
1. Why would someone choose this way of construction?
The advantages are manifold and detailed in the following answers. The most important are the properties of wood, from which the carrying body of the building is made. These properties are not found in any other building material while they fully meet modern energy, environmental and economic needs of man and the environment. Especially in countries like Greece, where seismic activity is high, the wood is an ideal building material.
2. Why a house with wooden framework better reflects the earthquake?
For the building permission, the structural study is necessary to be conducted ensuring the durability of the building. Wood as a building material compared with other building materials such as concrete, steel, metal, etc. is the most durable. The timber presents high antiseismic behavior due to: a) the high mechanical strength in relation to weight, and b) the elasticity of the material which enables absorption of seismic loading on the connections/joints of the frame elements. In contrast with a conventional building the steel reinforcements bars (irons) of concrete after half a century are corroded, thus losing its strength and making them vulnerable to an earthquake. That's why scientists are concerned about the behavior of such buildings in aged cities in countries with high seismicity.
3. Do they have a fire resistance?
The fire resistant study is obligatory for the building permission. According to fire resistance regulation, residential buildings in Greece must have a fire resistance F 30, and only in specific cases F60. All ELK buildings have fire resistance F 60. Gnerally, it is a myth that wood withstands less on fire than other building materials and it is proven after years of studies and actual fire incidents. For example in case of fire, concrete cracks and eventually collapses due to the deformation of the steel reinforcement bars. On the contrary the fire in a plywood beam turns off by itself, unless revived by other materials. The charred surface of the beam, resulting from extensive exposure to flame 275oC, will protect the internal wood part and at the same time its mechanical strength. This fact is now recognized internationally by the insurance companies which determine the fire safety criteria. That is why the wooden buildings are insured against fire by insurance companies.
4. It is said that these houses are energy, what is due?
Generally, the use of wood in wooden houses and houses with wooden frame structure contributes decisively to the increased insulation of a house. This is because the timber has a heat capacity thereby avoiding heat accumulating and transferring heat loads in the house. For example in summer period that temperature drops during afternoon, we get the same temperature as the outside by just opening the windows (bioclimatic principle). Unlike a building of concrete or metal, wherein the walls have gained a lot of heat during the day, cooling cannot be achieved only by physical ventilation. So although outside we have ideal temperature inside the house requires air conditioning. Respectively in winter period, due to the heat capacity of conventional walls, the house needs almost 3 days to warm up.
The ELK houses U-value (U) classifies its houses in energy class A and A +. see here
5. Is Energy saving important in countries such as Greece or Cyprus?
Energy savings are important both for heating and cooling a house. Eurostat study reflects the current situation in our country, according to which Greece consumes more energy for heating than eg Denmark, Germany, England or the Netherlands. The cause is the outdated way of building construction in Greece. For this reason the Greek state passed a law under which from 2021, all buildings in Greece, should be zero – energy. ELK buildings are energy efficient, ecological and exceed the requirements of the law passed. Generally, the energy savings and the proper temperature in a closed area (uniform distribution of heat, gentle heating systems - cooling, etc.) contribute significantly to qualitative way of live and reduced operating costs.
6. What kind of maintenance needs such a building?
The buildings constructed with wooden frame and external plaster coating (facade) have almost zero maintenance cost because of its factory implementation. see here
Regarding the log-houses, the buildings according to the paints applied to the outer surface of wood needs a maintenance every 4-7 years.
7. What about their durability?
According to the Austrian Industrial Regulations "Holzforschungsinstitut Austria" (Article V2320) the way of wooden building construction and the materials applied are defined. According to this regulation a 100 year certification is given. All ELK buildings are certified by this regulation for 100 years. Furthermore, ELK is one of the few companies in Europe, which has taken for both wooden houses (log constructions) and for houses with wooden bearing structure (timber frame constructions) CE for completed building "ELK HOUSE".
8. Are the house designs standard, are there any architectural restrictions;
Apart from the typologies of ELK houses, which we can modify and adapt to your needs, the customer has the opportunity to implement its own architectural design according to its requirements and aesthetics. We can undertake the architectural design of your house from the very beginning based on your plot and the restrictions under the terms of layout of the area. At the same time we undertake a study based on the principles of bioclimatic design, aiming to succeed the necessary thermal and visual comfort to their users by consuming the minimum possible energy for heating, cooling and lighting.
We provide you the possibility to choose among different options of external and roof finishing. The outer coating of the wooden frame can be made of colored plaster, natural or artificial stone, brick and wood. Regarding the roof the customer can choose among all types of tiles, such as ceramic, concrete, metal, asphalt. For the flat roof (depending on whether it is visitable or not) can be selected tiles, asphalt finish, pebbles etc.
9. Is building permission necessary?
The building permission is necessary for the construction of a wooden building. As in a conventional construction and thus to our own, the same legislation General Building Regulations (Law. 4067) and the construction license process (N. 4030) are valid and required.
10. How much does a prefabricated building cost?
The construction cost per unit area is lower than a conventional building. To this should be taken into consideration the significant reduction in construction insurance stamps. It is important to note that contrary to the conventional construction, the customer having reached the architectural plan which will be the definitive, can select the construction and lining materials thus excluding any economic divergences from the initial budget. Then, after the building having built, the owner has quick payback from the very low operating costs and the almost zero building maintenance.
11. May I have both a titled roof and a flat roof in my house?
Our buildings can be built either with titled roof (1-titled, 2-titled etsc) or with a flat roof.
12. Can extensions be made retrospectively?
Buildings can be extended along without restriction whenever the owner wishes. The expansion height should have initially planned for static reinforcement of the building to avoid the additional costs. In any case extension is able to be made whenever the customer wants.